Schools
Ex-Leader Returns To Burr Ridge District
He is already drawing a $220,000 pension. He retired two years ago, but stayed as a consultant.
BURR RIDGE, IL – Burr Ridge School District 180's former longtime superintendent returned to his old job on an interim basis this month.
In early June, the school board approved a one-year contract for Thomas Schneider, who retired from the top job in June 2023.
He is replacing Charlie Kyle, who left this month to become superintendent of Skokie District 73.5. That district's enrollment is more than twice District 180's.
Find out what's happening in Burr Ridgefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
When he retired at age 57, Schneider was making $315,000. That was higher than the pay for his counterparts in much larger school systems.
Schneider's pension is nearly $220,000 a year, which is slated to rise to $254,000 in four years.
Find out what's happening in Burr Ridgefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Under state rules, he can only work in a Teachers Retirement System-covered position for up to 120 days in a year and still receive his pension.
Kyle's appointment in Skokie was announced on June 2, giving District 180 little time to get a permanent superintendent in place. Hiring for major school jobs is typically done months earlier.
Skokie's former superintendent, Zipporah Hightower, left under unclear circumstances in February.
This month, the District 180 board hired a superintendent search consultant.
In a way, Schneider never left the Burr Ridge district, continuing as an $800-a-day consultant.
In 2022, Patch reported on Schneider's business travel to destinations such as Las Vegas, New Orleans, Miami, San Diego, Tampa, Fort Myers and Orlando. The 2½-year period included the two years before the pandemic and the first six months of 2022. (No business meetings were held during the pandemic.)
In all, Schneider logged two dozen trips to conferences, taking him out of the district for two months over the period examined. The travel cost taxpayers more than $30,000.
Nearly 70 percent of the district's students are considered low-income, with many of them living in federally subsidized housing. By contrast, neighboring districts are among the state's wealthiest.
The district's enrollment has plunged to 477, from 618 in 2018, according to the Illinois Report Card.
Schneider and Kyle could not be reached for immediate comment Wednesday.
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